Picks of the Week: December 9-15

photo by spablab on flickr
photo by spablab on flickr

As we enter the second week of the month, the holiday events continue to pile up. Make this a December to remember with New York Theatre Ballet’s performance of Keith Michael’s “The Nutcracker” as well as a Christmas Bird Count in Central Park this weekend. Have a holly, jolly time!

Saturday, December 14

Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower
Symphony Space
11 am
A favorite on the children’s music scene, Elizabeth Mitchell and her family band, You Are My Flower, will be performing a holiday concert at Symphony Space this Saturday. They will be joined on stage by Natalie Merchant and other special guests who will help usher in the holidays with renditions of songs found on Mitchell and co.’s new album, The Sounding Joy. Symphony Space members are invited to stick around after the show for cookie decorating and holiday goodies at the Just Kidding Club Holiday Party. Concert tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids. Reservations are required for the holiday party.

Jigsaw Jones & the Case of the Class Clown
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
1:30 pm
Theodore “Jigsaw” Jones is on the case during ArtPower’s production of Jigsaw Jones & the Case of the Class Clown at the BMCC Tribeca PAC. Jigsaw and his friend, Mila, must discover who’s been sliming a fellow student in Ms. Gleason’s class. Based on the book by James Preller, this sleuth show is perfect for ages 5 and up. Ticket holders are welcome to snap a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus after the performance. Tickets are $25.

Saturday, December 14-Sunday, December 15

Christmas Bird Count
Central Park & Prospect Park
Various times
Participate in a holiday tradition that’s more than a hundred years old! The 114th Annual Christmas Bird Count will be held in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on Saturday and Sunday and in Central Park on Sunday. Bird watchers of all ages can help the bird population flourish by keeping track of the number of birds they spot in the parks. Help the New York City Audubon protect its fine feathered friends! Bird counters are strongly encouraged to dress warmly and bring binoculars.

The Nutcracker
Florence Gould Hall
Various times
Part of the New York Theatre Ballet’s Once Upon A Time series, this enchanting one-hour production of Keith Michael’s “The Nutcracker” is geared toward children ages 3 through 12. Featuring a glow-in-the-dark owl that swoops through the air and a timeless score by Tchaikovsky, this ballet classic will win rave reviews amongst your little ones. Plus, following the 3:30 pm show on Sunday, all ticket-holding kids are invited to The Land of Sweets Party, during which they can play games, meet NYTB dancers, feast on an array of desserts, and more. Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Reservations are required for the Land of Sweets after-party.

Sunday, December 15

Gustafer Yellowgold
The Jewish Museum
2 pm-3 pm
Gustafer Yellowgold, the animated creation of singer and illustrator Morgan Taylor, is coming to The Jewish Museum this Sunday. Ages 3 and up will be riveted by this multimedia show, made up of silly songs and stories, which has been hailed by the New York Times as something akin to Dr. Seuss and the Yellow Submarine. Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for kids. Seating is first come, first served; arrive early.

Relevant Directory Listings

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Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens

<p dir="ltr">With more than 35 years of experience, Broadway Dance Center Children & Teens provides young movers ages 3-18 with exceptional training. BDC delivers the finest all-around dance experience for students by offering a wide variety of styles and levels, performance opportunities, and the highest caliber dance instruction that only New York City and BDC Children & Teens can provide.</p> <p dir="ltr">This studio is so much more than a training course for young dancers; it is a diverse, family-friendly community for budding creatives. It has an exemplary faculty who follow the vision to not only develop a dancer’s love and ability in dance, but to do so in a nurturing and supportive way.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-16583089-7fff-d8a9-61c2-8f689f7348b2"></span></p>

Ivy Camps USA

<p>Ivy Camps USA is a premium online provider of engaging after-school classes, holiday camps, summer camps, and personalized tutoring. Their instructors come from the top 10 US universities and love to inspire and mentor emerging minds. Extracurricular classes, holiday camps, and summer camps are offered in STEM, Business Leadership, and Arts, Media & Communication for ages 6-14. Tutoring programs focus on supporting students academically, developing a mentoring relationship, and rekindling a love of learning. Ivy Camps USA is known for exceptional programming that kids love and parents trust.</p>

Instituto Cervantes

<p><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.</span></p>